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Among the other advantages which it secures on this side eternity, one is the improvement of the human mind — I mean of his intellectual qualities: the improvement of his judgment, his discrimination, his mental faculties. I shall draw your attention to four reasons why the religion of Christ, when received into the heart, improves the human mind.

I. ITS TENDENCY IS TO SUBJUGATE THE PASSIONS. IT is more than its tendency; it is its direct effect. Not that man is wholly without restraint; there are three things which may operate to check the evil passions of the heart.

1. Conscience has some power.

2. Reason.

3. Self-interest.Self-interest can do something to check the passions, because it will say, "This will do you an injury." But they are unable to do this perfectly, and that for two reasons.

1. That passion is greatly assisted by powerful allies. Satan sits at the right hand of the human heart, blowing up the coals of evil which are in the heart into a flame of sin, which marks the demon's power over fallen man. But religion comes to counteract this; the grace of God, by applying to the mind Divine truth and disposing the mind to love and embrace it, improves the mind —

(1) By strengthening it. It gives such views, and principles, and motives, as direct the conduct.

(2) By enlightening it. The tendency of religion on the mind is to make it see more accurately, reason more correctly, and feel more properly.

II. IT PRESENTS RIGHT PRINCIPLES OF ACTION.

1. It presents a principle extremely weighty to regulate the mind aright and make it decide right on such things as it is called to judge respecting it. It enables the mind to realize eternity; to be influenced by it at such times and in such places as an individual living in preparation for it should be influenced and guided in relation to an appearance before the great tribunal.

2. Religion produces the realization of another object which tends to guide the mind aright. What is that which will decide the rectitude of the whole life? The apostle has stated it — "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God"; because all that is not done according to this motive is not done according to the will of God.

3. Religion influences the mind and will aright, and therefore elevates the mind, because it furnishes a directory — the Scriptures. Religion has this influence, because —

III. IT PRESENTS TO THE MIND THE HIGHEST SUBJECTS OF CONTEMPLATION.

1. It brings to the mind the things of God. It takes the mind, by contemplation, up into the mount, as Moses was taken up to converse with God; or as the disciples were taken up into the Mount of Transfiguration to behold the glory of Christ and to hear Him talk with Moses and Elias. It has an elevating effect.

2. It makes the mind serious; and seriousness improves the mind. Trifling is the mark of a light mind, and does not improve it. Religion, as it induces habits of seriousness, cannot fail to improve the mind.

3. The study of God's Word tends to strengthen the mind; and that which strengthens the mind improves it.

4. Religion gives acquiescence to the will of God; and this improves the mind. The mind that is opposed to the will of God is always battling; but the mind that yields to the will of God is always going right.

IV. BY THE INTERNAL PEACE, the peace of soul which religion is calculated to produce, and which it actually does produce; it raises the human mind. When the mind is at peace, it can operate calmly, and is therefore more likely to regulate the judgment and guide it aright. It has often been remarked what effect religion produces in seasons of great danger. This was strikingly observed in the case of the loss of the Kent East Indiaman. There were some persons on board under the influence of religion; and some of these, even females, became objects of admiration, because of their remarkable presence of mind. And this power of religion has often been remarked in our pious soldiers and sailors: their minds have been composed in the hour of danger and of battle; and they have been distinguished by their energy and calmness. In fact, almost all that distinguishes the rational from the irrational is seen in the Christian. The Christian in this world is always in danger. We cannot but observe, then —

1. How superior is the state of the human mind in those who have religion to the state of the mind in those who have it not.

2. In attentively reading the history of the world, we may state, without fear Of contradiction, that the minds of men have been improved in proportion to the degree of religion they have possessed.

(R. Sibthorp.)

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KJV: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

WEB: For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.